Birds of Lucknow, 485 
resident, rather more abundant during the cold weather 
than in the hot and rainy seasons. It is fond of grassy bush 
and dhak-jungle_, but fonder still of patches and rows of tall 
thatching-grass, on the stalks of which, when seeding, it 
settles and searches diligently for insects, generally in parties 
ranging from six to a dozen. During the heat of the day 
the birds usually retire to rest in some bush overgrown 
with long grass, where they may be heard conversing in a 
low chatter. If then disturbed they make a great noise, and 
scuttle through the adjoining grass in all directions, becoming 
silent as they hide or squat, and remaining so until the 
intruder moves off, when they generally re-assemble in the 
same bush, or in some other close by. The male bird sings 
very sweetly, oftenest, I think, in the cold dewy November 
mornings. ^^ — G. R. 
I have nothing to add to Mr. Reid's statements, beyond 
the fact that I do not consider the bird quite so common — • 
in Lucknow, at all events — as he infers. It breeds during 
the " rains,^^ but not commonly. The Martiniere boys only 
get one nest or so every year, and they are far too clever 
to let much escape them. 
On July 29th, 1898, Lieut. S. A. Davies, of the 2nd E. 
Lancashire Regiment, and I took five hard-set eggs in a 
beautiful nest woven into some high patowal grass near the 
railway-line. The structure was a deep inverted cone, and 
was plastered outside with spiders^ webs, much after the 
fashion of that of the Fantail Flycatcher. The eggs, which 
are amongst the handsomest that I have seen, were very round, 
of a pinky-white ground-colour, richly blotched with deep 
blood-red. The bird was on the nest, but darted off every 
time we approached and hid in the dense grass, so that 
shooting her was out of the question. There is, I think, no 
doubt whatever as to the authenticity of these eggs, which 
are similar to a series shown me by Mr. B. B. O^maston, 
taken by him in the Diin. 
Average of 5 Lucknow eggs -68" X "55" 
Measurement of largest q^^ -71" X "56" 
,^ . smallest egg -06" x -55" 
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